Image transfer apparatus

Abstract

An image transfer apparatus for transferring an image on an image sheet to an image-receiving sheet, while the image sheet and the image-receiving sheet are held in a superposed condition, comprises a working station for placing the image sheet and the image-receiving sheet one above the other on a support member to make up a transported sheet assembly, a tacking station for tentatively occuring the image sheet and the image-receiving sheet of the transported sheet assembly together, a transfer station for applying pressure and heat to the transported sheet assembly tentatively secured, and a feed mechanism for feeding the transported sheet assembly through the working station, the tacking station and the transfer station in sequence. Accordingly, the transported sheet assembly is fed automatically by the feed mechanism from the working station through the tacking station and the transfer station in sequence.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image transfer apparatus for transferring an image on an image sheet to an image-receiving sheet, comprising: a working station for placing said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet one above the other on a support member to make up a transported sheet assembly;   a tacking station for tentatively securing said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported sheet assembly together;   a transfer station for applying either pressure or pressure and heat to said transported sheet assembly tentatively secured in said tacking station, thereby to transfer said image to said image-receiving sheet; and   feed means for feeding said transported sheet assembly from said working station through said tacking station to said transfer station in sequence.   
     
     
       2. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said working station comprises aligning means to align said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported sheet assembly with each other, and flattening means to flatten said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported sheet assembly. 
     
     
       3. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image transfer apparatus further comprises a receiving station to receive said transported sheet assembly after said image has been transferred to said image-receiving sheet in said transfer station. 
     
     
       4. A image transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said receiving station comprises cooling means to cool said transported sheet assembly. 
     
     
       5. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said aligning means comprises aligning members which can penetrate through said support member in the depthwise direction thereof and project to be capable of aligning said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet placed one above the other on said support member, first drive means for moving said aligning members in the depthwise direction of said support member, and control means for actuating said first drive means to cause said aligning members to penetrate through and project out of said support member during alignment, and cause to said aligning members to withdraw from said support member during the time except for alignment. 
     
     
       6. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said feed means comprises restricting means to restrict movement of said transported image assembly substantially normal to the direction of travel thereof. 
     
     
       7. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said image transfer apparatus further comprises first return means for returning said transported image assembly to said working station after completion of said image transfer. 
     
     
       8. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tacking means is arranged to tentatively secure said transported image assembly by applying either pressure or pressure and heat to said transported image assembly in the depthwise direction thereof. 
     
     
       9. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said tacking means comprises a stepped type roller which is brought into pressure contact with said transported image assembly in the depthwise direction thereof before said transported image assembly is advanced to said transfer station by said feed means. 
     
     
       10. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said tacking means comprises a heat roller, a stepped type roller located opposite to said heat roller, and second drive means for driving one of said heat roller and said stepped type roller toward the other, thereby pressing said transported image assembly while being advanced therebetween to tentatively secure said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet together. 
     
     
       11. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said flattening means comprises a brush disposed to extend in the widthwise direction of said transported image assembly in facing relation to said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported image assembly placed one above the other, and moving means to move said brush in the direction of travel of said transported image assembly while keeping slide contact with the facing side of said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported image assembly placed one above the other. 
     
     
       12. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said moving means comprises second return means for returning said brush to an initial position oppositely to the direction of travel of said transported image assembly after said brush has been moved in the direction of travel of said transported image assembly. 
     
     
       13. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said flattening means comprises guide means for guiding said brush in the direction of travel of said transported image assembly and the direction opposite thereto. 
     
     
       14. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said guide means comprises a first guide path for guiding said brush in the direction of travel of said transported image assebmly and a second guide path for guiding said brush oppositely to said direction of travel, said second guide path being set in a position more spaced from a travel path of said transported image assembly than said first guide path. 
     
     
       15. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer station comprises a first pair of rollers for heating said transported image assembly while holding said transported image assebmly therebetween under pressure, a second pair of rollers disposed downstream of said first pair of rollers in the direction of travel of said transported image assembly for heating said transported image assembly while holding said transported image assembly therebetween under pressure, third drive means for rotatively driving said first and second pairs of rollers in the direction of travel of said transported image assembly, and transmission means disposed between respective rollers of said first and second pairs of rollers and said third drive means for transmitting drive power of said third drive means to the respective rollers of said first and second pairs of rollers so that outer circumferential speeds of the repsective rollers of said first and second pairs of rollers become substantially equal to one another, while said transported image assembly is being held between and advanced by the respective rollers of said first and second pairs of rollers. 
     
     
       16. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said third drive means includes fourth drive means for driving those rollers out of said first and second pairs of rollers on the side facing said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported image assembly placed one above the other, and fifth drive means for driving those rollers out of said first and second pairs of rollers on the side facing said support member of said transported image assembly. 
     
     
       17. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 16, wherein that roller out of said second pair of rollers on the side facing said support member of said transported image assembly is set to have a larger diameter than that roller out of said first pair of rollers on the side facing said support member of said transported image assembly. 
     
     
       18. An image transfer apparatus for transferring an image on an image sheet to an image-receiving sheet while said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet are held in a superposed condition, comprising: a working station for placing said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet one above the other on a support plate to make up a transported sheet assembly;   a tacking station for tentatively securing said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported sheet assembly together;   a transfer station for applying either pressure or pressure and heat to said transported sheet assembly tentatively secured in said tacking station, thereby to transfer said image to said image-receiving sheet;   a cooling station for cooling said transported sheet assembly after said image has been transferred; and   feed means for feeding said transported sheet assembly from said working station through said tacking station, said transfer station and said cooling station in this order in the direciton of travel of said transported sheet assembly, and then moving back said transported sheet assembly having been cooled from said cooling station through said transfer station, said tacking station and said working table in this order in the direction of travel of said transported sheet assembly.   
     
     
       19. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said working station comprises aligning means for aligning said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported sheet assembly with each other, and flattening means for flattening said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet of said transported sheet assembly, 
     
     
       20. An image transfer apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said transfer station comprises a pair of rollers for holding said transported sheet assembly therebetween to apply said pressure and heat. 
     
     
       21. A heat transfer method for transferring an image on an image sheet to an image-receiving sheet with said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet placed one above the other, comprising the steps of: transporting said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet in a superposed state; to form a transported sheet assembly and   allowing said superposed image sheet and image-receiving sheet to pass through a transfer station; and   allowing said superposed image sheet and image-receiving sheet to pass again through said transfer station by backwardly transporting said superposed image sheet and image-receiving sheet, thereby transferring said image recorded on said image sheet to said image-receiving sheet.   
     
     
       22. A heat transfer method for transferring an image on an image sheet to an image-receiving sheet with said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet placed one above the other, comprising the steps of: transporting said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet in a superposed state; to form a transported sheet assembly   subjecting said superposed image sheet and said image-receiving sheet to at least pressurization while being passed through a transfer station so as to transfer said image recorded on said image sheet to said image-receiving sheet; and   transporting said superposed image sheet and said image-receiving sheet in the backward direction so as to be returned to a position prior to transfer.   
     
     
       23. A heat transfer method for transferring an image on an image sheet to an image-receiving sheet with said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet placed one above the other, comprising the steps of: transporting said image sheet and said image-receiving sheet in a superposed state to form a transported sheet assembly;   subjecting said superposed image sheet and said image-receiving sheet to at least pressurization while being passed through a transfer station; and   transporting said superposed image sheet and said image-receiving sheet in the backward direction and subjecting said superposed image sheet and said image-receiving sheet to at least pressurization while being passed again through said transfer station, thereby transferring said image recorded on said image sheet to said image-receiving sheet.   
     
     
       24. An image transfer method according to any of claims 21, 22 and 23 further comprising steps of inserting into a transfer station and transporting said transported sheet assembly, said transported sheet assembly being formed by superposing said image sheet and said image receiving sheet on a support.